Chikubushima 竹生島

Nagahama Port is where you board the boat for Chikubushima. There are several round trips every day from either port. No reservations necessary. Within walking distance from Nagahama Station.Chikubushima can be reached from Nagahama Port, Hikone Port, or Imazu Port on the other side of the lake. There are several round trips every day from either port. Nagahama boat schedule: [url=http://www.biwakokisen.co.jp/[/url] and Hikone boat schedule: http://www.ohmitetudo.co.jp/marine_time-table2017_hikone-chikubushima-hikone_normal/index.html

According to legend, Mt. Ibuki and Mt. Azai-dake (Kanakuso-dake) in northern Shiga argued over who was the highest in Shiga. Mt. Ibuki got so upset by the argument that he drew a sword and sliced off Azai-dake's head...

Chikubushima is Lake Biwa's most famous, historic, and sacred island. National Historic Site MAP

Chikubushima used to be a lush green island. Now it is turning brown by the thousands of cormorants which nest on the island, beyond the reach of humans.

Chikubushima is home to Hogonji Temple first built in 724 as ordered by the Emperor to worship the Goddess Benzaiten. It belongs to the Shingon Buddhist Sect (Buzan School) and it is the 30th temple in the 33-Temple Pilgrimage of Saigoku. 宝厳寺

Chikubushima is also home to Tsukubusuma (Chikubushima) Shrine which is also a National Treasure. Until 1868 when Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines were required to be separate, the shrine was part of Hogonji temple.

Whenever you see a torii gate, it indicates the grounds of Tsukubusuma Shrine. The shrine is actually integrated with Hogonji temple.

Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) monument. One of the verses mentions Chikubushima. This monument commemorates the song and that verse. 琵琶湖就航の歌 歌碑

Torii gate and bridge to Tsukubusuma Shrine, also called Chikubushima Shrine.

Small shrine for the White Snake God, a messenger of goddess Benzaiten. 白巳大神

Statue of the goddess Benzaiten at Hogonji, Chikubushima. Benzaiten is the goddess of everything that flows: Water, rivers, music, etc. 弁才天

Tsukubusuma Shrine's Haiden Hall

Altar for the Chikubushima Dragon God.

The snake is a messenger of the Goddess Benzaiten.

Inside the Haiden Hall, you can buy these little dishes. Buy two of them. You write your name on one and your wish on the other dish. Then throw it through the torii gate.

Throw your two dishes at the torii gate. If your dish goes under the torii gate, your wish will come true. Geez, look at all those failed wishes (shattered dishes).This is also one location where the film Idai Naru, Shurararabon (偉大なる、しゅららぼん The Great Shu Ra Ra Boom) was filmed. The scene where Ryosuke throws his small dish through the torii.

View of Nagahama from Chikubushima

Tsukubusuma Shrine (National Treasure) on Chikubushima island, Nagahama, Shiga. It worships Benzaiten as well as the Dragon God and Azai-hime. 都久夫須麻神社

Chikubushima Port is always busy with boats coming from Nagahama, Hikone, and Imazu.

Karamon Gate 唐門 (National Treasure). Entrance to the Kannondo Temple. Said to have come from Toyotomi Hideyoshi's original mausoleum in Kyoto. From the Momoyama Period. Chikubushima, Nagahama, Shiga.This could also have been the gate to the Gokuraku Bridge at Hideyoshi's Osaka Castle in the early 17th century.